25 June 2013: Supporters hold meeting to discuss concerns over Kinnear's appointment at Newcastle. Kinnear was invited to decline the invitation, instead sending a close friend - Eddie McIntyre - who read out a statement on his behalf.

Former Newcastle United star Alan Shearer says the hours after the transfer window closed, and Newcastle being beaten 3-0 by Sunderland on their own pitch for the second successive season, were factors that could well have led to Joe Kinnear's resignation.

"I shouldn't say I'm surprised but I was surprised in the first place when he was announced director, particularly the way the news was broken when Joe himself announced it on the radio when he got some of the players' names wrong.

"What has he been there now, about seven months? And two players have come in, albeit both players on loan.

"Maybe it's Newcastle's way of trying to say that the performance on Saturday wasn't good enough and why they didn't get any new players in, maybe that's one of the reasons.

"But they can only get players in if there's one man prepared to sign a chequebook."

– Alan Shearer on BBC Radio Five Live

"You just never know what goes on at Newcastle behind closed doors.

"I think we were all surprised because Joe had been out of football for so long. Let's say that we hope he's okay and it's nothing to do with ill-health but it's just bizarre sometimes at Newcastle.

"It's amazing what happens in three or four weeks in football, 3-0 on Saturday hurt everyone and they were second best all over the park on Saturday with a lack of fight and a lack of desire from the players and now it's come to this."

Artist's impression of Newcastle United's proposed new training ground Credit: Newcastle United Football Club

Newcastle United have unveiled plans for a multi-million pound revamp of the club's training complex that will turn it into one of the best facilities of its kind in Europe.

The club plans to redevelop the existing 35 acre site with work beginning in May 2015 and completed in early 2016

While existing training pitches and a modern indoor training hall will be retained, the Club's current Training Centre building will be demolished and replaced by a much larger, high-tech structure that will feature new changing rooms, leisure and catering facilities a hydrotherapy and fitness pool.

United's Director of Football, Joe Kinnear said: "This is a hugely exciting development for Newcastle United. We have one of football's great stadiums and we are delighted to now be announcing plans for a training complex which will rival any in Europe"